Aggie Spotlight

by Chad

I had prior engagements this past weekend, but I can now focus on some of the ins and outs of Aggie football. Ok readers, what has the latest Aggie football game taught us? Shouldn’t beating a remedial team 41-6 prove that the Aggies will systematically dominate all other teams in 2009?
I wish this were true, but I need to assess this team fairly and also provide some semblance of a respectable column. Personally, I’m just hoping for respectability. It’s been a couple of long, hot summers, without a drop of rain in Aggieland. That’s not saying that this team will be unable to win any meaningful games. I’m just not gaining any satisfaction in this temporary shade provided by the pounding of a Mountain West cellar dweller.
The team is young… very young. The depth chart lists 24 sophomores or freshmen in the Aggie two deep, of which, 7 are starting on defense. From the way the team played last year, this is not a bad thing. Head Coach Mike Sherman appears to be willing to play the best players at his disposal. Underclassmen will make mistakes, but only in these sophomores and freshmen does hope truly lie for the Aggie faithful. It is just a sad fact that the Aggies were out manned in the trenches and in the secondary over the past couple of seasons. From what I have seen in the game against New Mexico, the team looks much better in these crucial areas. I’m just not sure how much of this improvement was due to Texas A&M being superior as opposed to the Lobos just being awful.
I can’t see waves rising, or hear the winds of change blowing just yet. Until the Aggies play well against Arkansas, let’s wait on labeling this team as being good. That being said, I do think that they are much improved. The suggestion I have to my fellow Ags is to sit back and enjoy the next couple of games before this young team gets to appreciate the minefield of the Big 12 South.